In ancient
Scotland, the first people to use Eaving as a surname were the Strathclyde-
Britons. It was a name someone who lived in the parish of
Irving in the county of
Dumfriesshire or from
Irvine in Strathclyde. The names have become indistinguishable over time.
Early Origins of the Eaving family
The surname Eaving was first found in
Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on
England that today forms part of the Dumfries and
Galloway Council Area. According to family lore, they descend from Duncan "the first of Eryvine," killed at the battle of Duncrub in 965. As far as records are concerned, the earliest listed was William de Irwin, an armor bearer to King Robert the Bruce. He received a grant of lands encompassing the Forest of Drum, on the banks of the River Irvine. And it was here that he had Drum Castle built which would become the
family seat of the
Clan for centuries. The river originally was named Lar Avon, or West River. Robert de Hirvine, ancestor of that previous William was mentioned in a Charter dated 1226 and he was at that time
tenant of the Douglas
Clan. From 1331-33 the family received further grants of land and by 1400 had become a very predominant family. The Chief of the Irvines lead his Clansmen in the Battle of Harlaw in 1511. Sir Alexander Irvine was slain there, and it was said of him: 'Gude Sir Alexander Irvine, The much renowned Laird of Drum.'
Early History of the Eaving family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eaving research.
Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1376, 1323, 1976, 1411 and are included under the topic Early Eaving History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Eaving Spelling Variations
The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different
spelling variations in a single document. Eaving has been spelled Irwin, Erwin, Irvine, Irving, Urwin, Erwine, Ervin, Erwing, Ervynn, Ervine, Erwynn, Irwing, Irwryn and many more.
Early Notables of the Eaving family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Eaving Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Eaving family to Ireland
Some of the Eaving family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 299 words (21 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Eaving family to the New World and Oceana
The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American
War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them: Andrew Ervin, a boy of 16; landed in Barbados in 1684. Over the next two
hundred years the Irving name was to settle mainly in the state of Pennsylvania. William Irwin settled in Virginia in 1642.
The Eaving Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Candide et constanter
Motto Translation: Fairly and firmly.